Chiles' Inner Voices: Keep Up Your Crusade For The Kids, Governor

Now that the Florida Legislature is in session, with Republicans calling the shots in both houses, what's our Democratic old he-coon of a governor to do?

Let's check it out. Gov. Lawton Chiles' inner voices - the ones who encouraged him to seek the office way back when - are pleased as punch that the governor's strategy this year is to put children's needs at the top of the state's agenda.

CHILES: Jihad, jihad, jihad.

VOICES: What's all that rambling about jihad? Aren't you a fine, upstanding Presbyterian?

CHILES: Howdy, Voices. 'Course, I'm a Presbyterian, but I value all religions.

When I say jihad, I'm not talking about Muslims fighting against enemies of Islam. I'm referring to the tobacco lobby's fanatical efforts to fight that 1994 landmark law that's helping the state sue tobacco companies.

We hope to prove that tobacco addiction has led to thousands of people getting sick, and the state has had to pick up the tab for their health care because these folks are poor. Taxpayers ought not to get stuck paying for the medical problems caused by a known carcinogen.

VOICES: Good luck, but aren't you leaving it open for lawsuits to be filed against all sorts of companies?

Take dairy or beef producers. We know that red meat and some cheeses are high in bad cholesterol. What happens if the state's Medicaid program has to pay for a heart-bypass surgery for a poor soul who ate too much cheese or meat? Why not sue those producers, too?

CHILES: Oh, don't tell me you've bought into that chamber-of-commerce scare tactic. The difference is tobacco companies are poisoning people with an addictive substance. And we're seeing more and more children start this nasty habit, too, which is why I want to increase the tax on cigarettes to help pay for a smoking-prevention campaign.

I intend to fight those tobacco companies and their legislative cronies with my last breath.

VOICES: Don't get all choked up on us now. We're thrilled that you're all wound up.

CHILES: Fighting tobacco is just one of my crusades this year, Voices. It all centers on prevention - whether it's stopping kids from taking their first smoke or providing programs for children who are at risk of becoming juvenile delinquents.

It's a cliche, but it's true: It's so much cheaper to prevent crime than to pay for prisons. That's why I'm trying to convince House Speaker Dan Webster and Senate President Toni Jennings that it's in every Floridian's best interests to help children in need of after-school care or day care or health care. I'm hoping those statistics showing that Orange County's juvenile crime rate is the fastest-growing in Florida will hit home for Toni and Dan.

It's fine to be for stricter education standards, as Toni and Dan are proposing, but unless we do some things upfront to prepare kids for school, those standards won't mean a hill of black beans if more kids end up dropping out and getting into trouble.

VOICES: Yeah, using those Orange County statistics was masterful. But, say, the Legislature played a little gotcha with you last week when the House of Representatives began work on a major campaign-finance reform package. Guess the Republicans are still upset about the phone calls that some of your campaign folks made to senior citizens to scare them into voting for you in 1994.

CHILES: I'm not proud of that phone-bank mess, but don't let the Republicans fool ya. The big problem is all the soft money that's out there, making its way to the candidates without any limits. This legislation doesn't tackle that little problem. I stuck to my $100-per-contributor limit.

VOICES: We're proud of you, old boy. Now go fight that holy war of yours for the kids' sake. They're worth it.